Knockdown carton



` Filed Sept. 20, 1947' June 7, 1949.v A, G, EDTWLLER -2472,698

KNOCKDOWN CARTON 3- Sheets-Sheet l wml l f fra?" r T 4 41 l/vvENToR /vrHa/vv 6. Earn/use y I" MAM Mum Y ATT ORNE YJ June 7, 1949. A. GQEDTMILLER 2,472,698

KNOCKDOWN QARTON v Filed sept. 20.51947 l l :s 4sheewsvneet 2 /NVENTOR K @Nr/#mvv Env-MM45@ A TTOANEYS June 7, 1949. A G. EDTMILLER 472,698

- xnoclmowu CARTON Filed Sept. 20, 1947' 3 'Sheets-Sheet 5 '/NVENTOR L 4N r-Ha/v Y 6. EMM/LMA ay rz, APM

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Patented June 7,1949

KNOCKDGWN CARTON I Anthony G. Edtmlller, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Hummel and Downing Company, Milwaukee, ,Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application September 23, 1947, 4Serial No. 775,182

. 14 Claims. (Cl. 229-41) l This invention relates to improvements in knock-down cartons, this term including carriers.

It is al primaryv object of the invention to pro`- vide in simple land easily manufactured form a paper board carton of the type which can be shipped flat and erected with the utmost speed and facility simply by pressure at diagonally opposite corners of the glued and folded blank.

It is my further object to provide a carton which will have substantial strength notwithstanding the foregoing considerations. It is also my object to provide a carton blank of suoli a character as to facilitate gluing and manufacture.

Other objects will appear in more detail from the following disclosure of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a carton blank embodying the invention as'it' appears when out, and with a rst application of adhesive made thereto.y

Fig. 2 shows the blank with its initial fold and a second' application of adhesive made thereto.

Fig. 3shows the blank withits folding and glu-l ing completed in readiness for shipment.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view similar to a portion of Fig. 2 and illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention. l

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective showing-the blank partially erected by manual pressure at its diagonally opposite corners, a portion of aside wall being broken away. e

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective similar to Fig. 5 showing a successive stage in the erecting operation.

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective showing the completely erected and closed carton, portions of a side wall and the cover being broken away to expose its interior construction. e

Fig. 8 is aplan view`similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified blank embodying myinvention.

Fig. 9 isa view in perspective similar to Fig. 5

showing the partially-erected -orton resulting e l from the blank of F18. 8.

In the following description of the structure of the blank and the completed carton, the descrip-V tion of the parts is, of course, relative according` to the intended position ofuse.

The blank as initially cut and as illustrated lll Fig. 1 comprises a number of panels and flapsv Connected to the other end of the back panel III upon score line I1 is another end panel I3 having a nap I9. To end,panel I3 is connected upon score line 20 a front panel 2| having a gluing flap 22 connected thereto upon score line 23. The front' flap 2l is also provided with a false bottom panel 24 which is connected to its bottom margin upon score line 25.

Connected to the bottom margin of the back panel upon score line 26 are the several panels 21. 28 and 29 which together constitute the box bottom. Panel 21 may comprise an isosceles triangle or trapezoidal figure with converging sides and is joined to triangular panel 28 upon score line 3l on one of such sides, and to triangular panel 23 upon score line 3| on another of such sides. Connected to the side margin of panel 23A upon score line 32 is a gluing flap 33. Connected to the opposite side margin of 'panel 23 upon score lin'e 3l is a supporting panel `35 having a gluing tab 3l at its outer free corner and joined thereto upon score line 31. In completing-the folding and gluing oi the blank in order that it may be erected as a carton, the first step is the application to the end panel I 3 of a spot of glue at 3B which is ultimately to connect the tab 36 to the end panel.

The tab 38 is next folded over onto the face o! panel 35 asindicated by the arrow 33 in Fig. 1. Panels 21 and 28 ofthe bottom assembly are now folded onto'the face of the back panel I3 as shown-in Fig. 2, while, at the same time, the bottom panel 29 is folded outwardly onto the face of panel 21', and the gluing flap 33 is folded inwardly onto theface of panel 23. This folding operation w'ilibring thesupporting panel 35 ontothe face of panel I3, and it will engage the gluing tab 33 with the glued area' 38 to elect a connection of the gluing tab with the end of the carton to suspend the bottom assembly foldably therefrom.

While this is'belng done, the false bottom panel 24 may befolded onto the face of the front wall 2l, or as shownin Fig'. 2. Portions of the end wall I5 are now provided with glue at 40 and 3l near the. outer and bottom margins of the end wall respectively.

It will be -noted that the gluing ap 33 has a mitered end I2.` The gluing flap 22 has a similarly mitered'end at 43. When the front wall -panel 2l and'superimposed false bottom panel 23 are now folded over the end wall panel I3 upon the hingelprovided by score line 20, the width of the end'wall panel is such that the mitered corner 33 of'gluing iiap 22 will fit and register with the lmitered corner 42 of gluing flap 33 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The end wall I is now hinged inwardly on score line I4 to bring its glued area 4I into contact with the gluing flap 33 and its glued area 40 into contact with the gluing flap 22. Pressure is preferably now applied to the parts until the glue has set. The carton is now complete in its knockdown form and in readiness for shipment at to the point of use.

In Fig. 4, I have illustrated a modified embodiment in which the gluing tab 36, instead of being folded beneath the supporting panel 35 as a preliminary to its adhesive attachment to the end panel I8, is left outstretched in a flat position and is glued in that position to the end panel I8. It will, in this position, provide the necessary hinged connection between the supporting panel and the end wall to enable the box to function properly in erection, but those skilled in the art will recognize that the resulting structure will not be as strong because a load imposed on the erected carton will tend to weaken the hinged bond of the Fig. 4 construction and to peel the tab 36 from its adhesive connection with the end wall i8, whereas these forces do not operate where the tab is glued in the preferred manner suggested in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

When it is desired to erect the carton for use, the operator has only to clasp it at its diagonally opposite corners represented by fold lines i4 and 2B as shown in Fig. 5. Pressure applied at these corners will cause the other diagonally opposite corners, as represented by fold lines 23 and 11,.

to move apart, the front end and back wall panels gradually assuming rectangular outline. i As the sides of the box move toward their ultimate positions, the supporting panel 35 will swing downwardly upon the hinge score 31 into face Contact with end wall I8, and the bottom panels 21, 29 and 29 will swing downwardly upon their respective hinge score lines 25. 34 and 32 toward horizontal position. In the :dat or shipping position of the carton, the panel 35 was folded iiat upon tab 36 and panel i8, while the bottom panels 21 and 23 were folded at upon the back panel lll, and bottom panel 29 was folded flat upon glue flap 3S and the end panel l5.

As soon as the apex l5 at the end of fold line 3d connecting panel 28 and 35 moves into registry with the corner of the box and out of sliding engagement with the false bottom 2B, the false bottom will be free to swing downwardly from its position in face contact with the front panel 2l thereby covering the bottom panels 21, 28 and 29 and closing the triangular opening between the bottom panels and the front wall which is shown at :l in Fig. 6.

It will be noted that the length and disposition 4 of the supporting panel Se is such that its free swing margin, as represented by fold line 3d, will, in the ultimate position which it reaches in Fig. 6, register with the bottom marginof the end panel lil where it provides support for the false bottom 2li without any direct connection between the bottom panel 25 and the end wall i3. Fig. 7 shows the ultimate position of the parts with the box erected and closed as in use. it will be apparent from a study of Figs. 6 and 7 that any load imposed on the false bottom 28 is sus,- tained by the several bottom panels 21, 28 and 29. Such portion of the load as is resting on the bottom panel 2B is transmitted through the supporting panel 35 and the gluing tab 3S to the end wall i8. In the preferred position of the gluing tab, such load is distributed throughout the adhesive area. In the alternate position of the gluing 4 tab shown in Fig. 4, the load is sustained directly on the hinging score line 31 instead of being distributed throughout the tab 36 under tension, the load is imposed on such tab under compression and tends to peel the tab from the end wall and to break down the hinging score line 31.

With the parts properly dimensioned and connected as shown, the carton is virtually self-erecting, requiring a minimum number of hand operations for opening it into position for use.

The carton as herein disclosed is well adapted for gluing and folding upon a carton manufacturing machine of the type known commercially as an infolding machine. A somewhat analogous carton designed for manufacture on the more common "outfolding" machine is disclosed in my companion application executed of even date. As more particularly disclosed in said cornpanion application, the alternative embodiment therein illustrated may be asembled and glued and erected with substantially the same facility as the carton specifically described above, but the end ap equivalent to bottom ap 28 is supported by a false end wall which does not require gluing to the end panel and is held in position by engagement of its front margin with the front panel of the completed carton. Generic claims, as well as claims specific to the embodiments herein disclosed, are presented herewith.

That the several panels need not be connected in the precise order is illustrated by the modified embodiments shown in Figs. 8 and 9. This is substantially identical with the device shown in Figs. l to 3 with the exception that the cover nap l2 is attached to the wall panel 2| instead of the wall panel HI. Insofar as the various wall panels may be designated as front or rear by referring to the position of the cover flap, this change automatically results in panel 2| becoming the rear panel, and the false bottom 24 being disposed against the rear panel instead of the front panel. Of course, these expressions are purely relative, and so far as the folding feature and disposition of the false bottom are concerned, it will be apparent that either .panel l0 or panel 2l may comprise the front panel, and either may comprise the rear panel according to the viewpoint of the user, and regardless of the particular disposition of the cover ap.

The construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9 further `demonstrates the fact that a slight change in proportions may result in blunting the apex of panel 21 so that this panel may take the form indicated at 2li in Figs. 8 and 9. Except as above noted, the blank and the resulting carton may be identical with the construction already described. Various other changes in the order in which the panels are connected may be made without departing from the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A carton blank comprising four side wall panels in higed connection, one of said panels being provided at the end of the series with. a gluing tab for connection with another of said panels at the opposite end vof the series to complete the carton wall structure, of a set of triangular bottom panels having fold lines connecting two of such panels to the sides of a third and the remaining side of the third panel to one of said side wall panels, the fold lines joining the several bottom panels being substantially at 45 degrees from the corners of the side wall panel last mentioned,V one of said rst two triangular bottom panels being provided with a gluing tab `and another provided with a supporting it will extend upwardly at a corner of the carton at one side of said contiguous panel.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 in further combination with a false bottom connected with a side panel opposite the side panel with which said third triangular bottom panel is connected, said false bottom being folded in the blank upon the panel with which it is hingedly connected and adapted in the erected carton to fold outwardly into horizontal position overlying the triangular bottom panels aforesaid.

v5. In a blank for a knock-down and readily erectable carton having side and end walls, the combination with alwall panel thereof having a contiguous end panel in hinged connection with it. of a central triangular bottom panel having one margin in hinged connection with `the side vwall panel ilrst mentioned and having other margins defined by score lines extending diagonally at approximately 45 degrees from the ends of said margin, other triangular bottom panels hingedly connected with the bottom panel aforesaid upon'said vscore lines and bounded by end score lines in approximate parallelism, a gluing flap connected to one o f said last mentioned triangular bottom panels upon one of said parallel scorexlines, anda supporting panel connected with the other triangular bottom panel 'upon the other of said parallel score lines. said supporting panel being free in the' blank of wall and end panel connection.

s. In e .mank for a knock-down'and readuy erectable carton, the combination with a wall panel thereof having a contiguous end panel in hinged vconnection ywith it. of a central triangular bottom panel having one margin in hinged connection with the side wall panel first mentioned and having other margins deilnedby' score lines extending diagonally at approximately degrees from the ends of said margin, other triangular bottom panels hingedly connected with the bottom panel aforesaid upon said score lines and bounded by end score lines in approximate parallelism, a gluing flap connected to one of said last mentioned triangular bottom panels upon one of said parallel score lines, a supporting panel connected with the other triangular bottom panel upon the other of said parallel score lines, and a gluing tab hingedly connected with lcollapsed into substantially parallel planes with each end wall aligned with one of the walls rst mentioned, a folding false bottomconnected to one of the walls first mentioned and folded nat thereon, and a folding bottom comprising three hingedly connected triangular panels, one' of which has a `base Imargin in hinged connection with one of the walls nrst mentioned and has its other two sides in upwardly foldable hinged connection with the other triangular panels, one

of said other panels having hinge means connecting it with one of said end walls and the remaining other panel being provided with a supporting panel. lying ilat against the other end wall inV hinged connection therewith.

8. A knock-down carton comprising front and rear panels and end panels in consecutive series and a gluing tab connecting the panels at the end of the series, each end panel and one ofthe panels iirst mentioned being aligned, and the aligned panels being in substantially parallel planes, a triangular bottom panel connected hingedly to the back panel, second and third triangular bottom panelshaving upwardly foldable hinged connection lwith the other margins of the triangular bottom panel rst mentioned, a gluing tab connected with the 'second bottom panel andadhesively attached to an end panel contiguous with the back panel, and a supporting panel hingedly connected to thel third bottom panel and having. a free margin disposed to coincide with the'hinged connectionl between the front panell series and a gluing tab connecting the panels at the end of the series, each end panel and one of the panels ilrstmentioned being aligned, and the aligned panels being in substantially parallel planes, a triangular `bottom panel connectedl hingedly to the backpanel, second and third triangular bottom panels hingedly connected with the other margins of the triangular bottom panel first mentioned, gluing tab connected with the second bottom panel and adhesively attached to an end panel contiguous with the back panel,

and a supporting panel hingedly connected to the third bottom panel and having a free margin disposed tocoincide with the-hinged connection between the front panel and one of' the end panels when the carton is erected, said support ing panel having an upper margin extending y diagonally from the corner between the rst mentioned bottom panel and the back panel andl being provided with a gluing tab hingedly connected with the supporting panel upon an extension of such margin, said tab being in adhesive connection with the end panel which is contiguous to the rear panel at said last mentioned corner.

10. The carton defined in claim 9 in which the front panel is provided with a Vfalse bottom hingedly connected to its lower margin and initially folded upon the front panel, said false bottom being lmovable upon its hinged connection with the front panel downwardly within the sup-- porting panel to overlie the triangular -bottom panels. l

11. A collapsible carton comprising four side wall panels having hinged corner connections witheach other, a .triangular bottom panel in hinged connection with one of said wall panels atrasos tom panel niet mentioned upon the respective score lines aforesaid, a gluing flap hingedly con nected .marginally with the second triangular bottom panel and adhesivelgY connected with one of said walls, and a supporting panel having a hinged connection with the third triangular bottom panel and extending upwardly therefrom in immediate proximity to a wall of the' carton opposite that with which the gluing flap is connected, an intermediate wall of the carton opposite that with which the rst triangular bottom ap is connected being provided with a false bottom resting upon the several bottom aps and marginally abutting the supporting and gluing aps.

12. The device of claim 11 in which the carton bottom is open between the second and third triangular bottom pane-ls and the wall with which the false bottom is connected, the opening affording access to the false bottom to facilitate the upward folding of such bottom preliminary to collapsing the carton.

13. The combination set forth in claim 11 in which the supporting panel has a. gluing tab ANTHONY G. EDTLIHJLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: 1

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 641,500 Davidson Jan. 16, 1900 732,071 Hartrampf June 30. i903 1,375,489 Davis Apr. 1.9, 1921 1,926,365 Berptein Sept. 12, i933 2,018,171 Himes Oct. 22, 1935 2,348,378 Goodyear May 9, 1944. 

